" The Northern Inuit dog, or Northern Inuit, is a breed originating in Great Britain which was bred with the aim of obtaining a dog that would look like a wolf but would have the character of a domestic dog . Although it is not an officially recognized breed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, its popularity is growing, which is largely due to its appearance in the famous series Game of Thrones."
Do you want to learn more about the Northern Inuit or Northern Inuit dog breed? If so, don't miss this PlanetAnimal fact sheet, in which we tell you all about its physical characteristics and where it comes from!
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Origin
- Europe
- United Kingdom
Size
- Large
Height
- 55-70
Adult Weight
- 25-45
Life expectancy
- 12-14
Character
- Balanced
- Society
- Very loyal
- Smart
- Quiet
Ideal for
- Children
- House
- Therapy
Recommended climate
- Cold
Hair type
- Medium
Origin of the Northern Inuit
The Northern Inuit dog breed originated, as its name suggests, from the Inuit people and the Arctic regions of North America. The Inuits crossed dogs and wolves in order to obtain a breed of dog which would have the endurance of wolves but which could live and cohabit alongside human beings.
In the 1980s these crosses were imported to the UK where a breeding program was established in which they were crossed with selected breeds such as Siberian Huskies, Malamutes and German Shepherds. All these numerous crosses gave us the breed we know today.
This gave rise to a breed with a lupine appearance, but whose character is that of a domestic dog. It should be mentioned that, although there were originally crosses with wolves, the dilution has been such that currently there is no genetic trace of this ancestor in the Inuit dogs of the North.
Characteristics of Northern Inuit
The northern Inuit is not a breed recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), but associations work every day to make it so:
In the northern Inuit breed standard, we find the following characteristics:
- It is a large dog, athletic but not too vigorous: the males weigh between 36 and 48 kg and they measure between 64 and 76 cm, while the bitches weigh between 25 and 38 kg for a size which oscillates between 59 and 71 cm.
- Their head is not too large and their nose and lips are black. Their eyes, which can be any color, are oval and slightly slanted. Their ears are medium sized, high set and always erect.
- The neck, strong and muscular, is in continuity with a well-proportioned body.
- The tail keeps the same position: it may have a slight sickle motion, but it will never be arched.
- Their coat is made of a double layer: dense and waterproof, which allows it to withstand low temperatures. On the body, the length of the coat is about 3-5 cm and it is slightly longer on the neck and hindquarters.
Northern Inuit colors
As for the color of the coat, it is possible to find specimens with a pure white coat, or a mixture of black, gray, sable or cream tones. With the exception of the totally white specimens, the rest have a face mask of one of the aforementioned hues.
Northern Inuit character
In terms of temperament, the Northern Inuit is a friendly, calm, confident and self-assured dog. He is also known in the cynological world for his ability to create an extremely powerful relationship with his family.Sometimes their dependency is such that they suffer from separation anxiety when separated from their guardians.
Although they can be somewhat stubborn or stubborn, they are a gentle breed that rarely shows signs of aggression, making them a perfect breed for families with children. However, we do not recommend that you adopt one if you have other small pets because they have extremely developed hunting instincts.
You should also know that they like to howl. This behavior can be quite unpleasant for some people and that's why we recommend adopting one if you live in a very large and a little bit isolated place.
Caring for a northern Inuit dog
To have a happy and he althy Northern Inuit, you need to consider the following points:
- Diet: This breed has a more sensitive digestive system than others. It is therefore particularly important to provide them with a high-quality, highly digestible diet that contains proteins of high biological value.
- Exercise: Unlike other large breeds, the Northern Inuit don't need a lot of exercise, as they are considered a fairly calm animal. Three walks a day, or even two if longer, may be enough to meet the needs of northern Inuit.
- Training: Although it is not a dog that needs a lot of exercise, it does require a lot of dedication from its guardian. When they are not well stimulated, they can end up bored and impatient. It is therefore important to spend time with them by playing or teaching them various and varied tricks.
- Hygiene: Like other northern dogs, northern Inuit dogs shed twice a year (in spring and autumn). These moults are pretty mind-blowing, as all the fur from the previous season is replaced. At these times, you must therefore brush them regularly and carefully (2 to 3 times a week during the moulting season), in order to remove all dead hair.
- Temperature: Due to their origin, these dogs do not tolerate high temperatures well. Therefore, in summer it is important to protect them from the sun, especially during the central hours of the day.
Education and training of the northern Inuit
As with any breed, training and socialization of the Northern Inuit should begin at an early age.
Northern Inuit are very intelligent dogs quite capable of learning many different tricks. They are so intelligent that they have started to be used as therapy or assistance dogs and we see them more and more in agility competitions or even doing canicross. However, they are also very stubborn and very independent, which can make raising them a little more complicated. For all these difficult characteristics, we do not recommend that you adopt a northern Inuit if you are inexperienced in the field of dog training.
Education should always be based on positive reinforcement. In addition, short, varied and low repetitive training sessions are recommended to avoid loss of concentration.
Northern Inuit He alth
Like other races, the Northern Inuit are predisposed to suffer from a number of pathologies, including:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Elbow dysplasia.
- Hereditary eye diseases such as glaucoma.
- Chondrodysplasia.
- Cryptorchidism.
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Epilepsy
- Addison's disease or hypoadrenocorticism.
It is therefore important to take him regularly to the veterinarian in order to quickly detect the appearance of any disease.
How to adopt a northern Inuit dog?
If you're considering welcoming a northern Inuit into your family, you can start by checking out animal welfare centers near you.
However, it can be difficult to find a northern Inuit, as they are not a very common race. You may also choose to check animal shelter websites.
In any case, remember that the most important thing when welcoming a new member into the family is not that they meet any breed standard, but that you can welcome you into your home and adapt to their needs and way of life.
Pictures of Northern Inuit
